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The greatest Christmas gifts

Published: Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 13, 2013 at 11:38 a.m.

As a parent, one of the best parts of the holiday season is waking up Christmas morning and seeing the look of wonder and surprise on my 2-year-old daughter’s face as she sees her presents for the first time.

As happy as that moment makes me, I want her to know that there is more to Christmas than just that.

My goal is to teach her that the holidays are a time to rekindle a spirit of giving, selflessness and community that should last all year long.

Giving back

First of all, I want to show my daughter that Christmas means giving as much as it means receiving.

Christmas is a perfect time for families to donate coats to kids who are less fortunate, contribute to local food banks and drives, volunteer for organizations and charities or foster pets without homes. Kids easily can participate in all these activities.

Buying donations as Christmas presents is another good way to give. One of my friends once gave my parents the gift of a tree donated in our family’s name at a Louisiana arboretum. These types of gifts can range from donating money to provide free books for needy kids (firstbook.org), to sponsoring a child in poverty, to adopting an endangered animal with the purchase of a stuffed toy through the National Wildlife Federation (shopnwf.org) or a penguin through the Audubon Nature Institute (audubon

institute.org). You also can find a list of top-rated charities at charitywatch.org. There are countless humanitarian organizations you can choose from, so pick whichever one suits your passions.

In addition to those ideas, we also can “give back” to the earth by choosing eco-friendly wrapping paper that is post-consumer recycled or reusing old newspapers to wrap our gifts. When Christmas is over, we can make sure to recycle our trash after presents are opened, too.

Money isn’t all that matters

I also want to teach my daughter that gifts mean more than the money they cost. Some of the best presents I’ve ever received were homemade. During the holidays, we can cook dinner for friends, bake cookies for family or design cards or ornaments as presents.

Another idea I got recently is to write a hand-written note to my daughter on each Christmas and birthday. I will keep them in a notebook and present them to her when she’s older.

These ideas cost little to nothing to make and can sometimes be more meaningful than anything bought in a store.

Community

Christmas is a time to foster a sense of community. That means spending time with family and friends as well as participating in community celebrations. And it’s even better if those events benefit local charities.

Recently, I saw a blog

(theimaginationtree.com) that is encouraging parents to put a more community-centered spin on the Elf on the Shelf idea with “kindness elves.” These little dolls leave notes each night suggesting activities children can do every day. Ideas range from donating old toys, to offering more hugs, to praying for people you love, to visiting elderly friends and family.

I think one of the greatest things you can give someone you love is quality time. I tried to keep this in mind as I was choosing Juliette’s Christmas gifts this year. I purchased books and crafts, for example, that would help us spend time together as a family. More than anything, family memories are some of the best presents I will ever give her.

Joy of gift-giving

I would like my daughter to know how good it feels to do something nice for other people. Around Christmas, people sometimes tell me not to get them gifts if they can’t afford to reciprocate. But I do not give gifts with the intent of receiving something in return. I give presents because it makes the ones I love feel special, it brings me joys, and it’s a way to show gratitude to the people in my life. These are feelings I hope to share with my daughter.

I also want to teach her to be joyful for what she receives, too. I want her to know that her presents are not entitlements; they are special gifts for which she should be truly thankful. I want her to learn how not to be greedy and the satisfaction of sharing.

The ideals we cultivate at Christmas should be on our minds throughout the year, not just during the holiday season. But the holidays are a perfect time to slow down and refocus on what is important in our lives. I think teaching my daughter how to preserve the spirit of Christmas would actually be the greatest gift I could give her.

Lauren Cenac is a copy editor for The Courier and Daily Comet and the mother of 2-year-old Juliette. She can be reached at lauren.cenac@houmatoday.com.

<p>As a parent, one of the best parts of the holiday season is waking up Christmas morning and seeing the look of wonder and surprise on my 2-year-old daughter's face as she sees her presents for the first time.</p><p>As happy as that moment makes me, I want her to know that there is more to Christmas than just that.</p><p>My goal is to teach her that the holidays are a time to rekindle a spirit of giving, selflessness and community that should last all year long.</p><h3>Giving back</h3>
<p>First of all, I want to show my daughter that Christmas means giving as much as it means receiving.</p><p>Christmas is a perfect time for families to donate coats to kids who are less fortunate, contribute to local food banks and drives, volunteer for organizations and charities or foster pets without homes. Kids easily can participate in all these activities.</p><p>Buying donations as Christmas presents is another good way to give. One of my friends once gave my parents the gift of a tree donated in our family's name at a Louisiana arboretum. These types of gifts can range from donating money to provide free books for needy kids (firstbook.org), to sponsoring a child in poverty, to adopting an endangered animal with the purchase of a stuffed toy through the National Wildlife Federation (shopnwf.org) or a penguin through the Audubon Nature Institute (audubon</p><p>institute.org). You also can find a list of top-rated charities at charitywatch.org. There are countless humanitarian organizations you can choose from, so pick whichever one suits your passions.</p><p>In addition to those ideas, we also can “give back” to the earth by choosing eco-friendly wrapping paper that is post-consumer recycled or reusing old newspapers to wrap our gifts. When Christmas is over, we can make sure to recycle our trash after presents are opened, too.</p><h3>Money isn't all that matters</h3>
<p>I also want to teach my daughter that gifts mean more than the money they cost. Some of the best presents I've ever received were homemade. During the holidays, we can cook dinner for friends, bake cookies for family or design cards or ornaments as presents.</p><p>Another idea I got recently is to write a hand-written note to my daughter on each Christmas and birthday. I will keep them in a notebook and present them to her when she's older.</p><p>These ideas cost little to nothing to make and can sometimes be more meaningful than anything bought in a store.</p><h3>Community</h3>
<p>Christmas is a time to foster a sense of community. That means spending time with family and friends as well as participating in community celebrations. And it's even better if those events benefit local charities.</p><p>Recently, I saw a blog </p><p>(theimaginationtree.com) that is encouraging parents to put a more community-centered spin on the Elf on the Shelf idea with “kindness elves.” These little dolls leave notes each night suggesting activities children can do every day. Ideas range from donating old toys, to offering more hugs, to praying for people you love, to visiting elderly friends and family.</p><p>I think one of the greatest things you can give someone you love is quality time. I tried to keep this in mind as I was choosing Juliette's Christmas gifts this year. I purchased books and crafts, for example, that would help us spend time together as a family. More than anything, family memories are some of the best presents I will ever give her.</p><h3>Joy of gift-giving</h3>
<p>I would like my daughter to know how good it feels to do something nice for other people. Around Christmas, people sometimes tell me not to get them gifts if they can't afford to reciprocate. But I do not give gifts with the intent of receiving something in return. I give presents because it makes the ones I love feel special, it brings me joys, and it's a way to show gratitude to the people in my life. These are feelings I hope to share with my daughter.</p><p>I also want to teach her to be joyful for what she receives, too. I want her to know that her presents are not entitlements; they are special gifts for which she should be truly thankful. I want her to learn how not to be greedy and the satisfaction of sharing.</p><p>The ideals we cultivate at Christmas should be on our minds throughout the year, not just during the holiday season. But the holidays are a perfect time to slow down and refocus on what is important in our lives. I think teaching my daughter how to preserve the spirit of Christmas would actually be the greatest gift I could give her. </p><p>Lauren Cenac is a copy editor for The Courier and Daily Comet and the mother of 2-year-old Juliette. She can be reached at lauren.cenac@houmatoday.com.</p>